SAYREVILLE - Jon Bon Jovi quoted himself, talking about his pride in the Sayreville Bomber.
"If you remember one thing from today's meeting, know this, you are writing the story of your life," the legendary Jersey rocker told students and staff at his high school, Sayreville War Memorial High. "Make it big, so that one day you'll say, 'Who says you can't go home? There's only one place they can call me one of their own.'"
The Jersey boy returned to Sayreville on Tuesday to dedicate the Jon Bon Jovi Center for the Performing Arts and Music suite, decorated with his mural by students, as part of the high school's Hall of Fame induction.
"I remember the first time I performed live on this stage," Bon Jovi said. "It was a summer talent show, my band played three songs, we won the competition, and I [here] brought home the trophy for second place. About to fail nine times, but learn to get up ten times."
Jon Bon Jovi holds up the trophy he won at his first performance at Sayreville High School during the ribbon cutting for the school's new Jon Bon Jovi Performing Arts Center on Tuesday.
Bon Jovi grew up in the Sherwood Forest section of the county and played football and trumpet and performed in the 1980s school musical.
"You're sitting here today dreaming of Sayreville's future, participating as theater, music, sound and recording engineers," he said. "Now some of you may choose to continue on this path after graduation. Others may consider this a stepping stone. Whatever you choose to do after you leave here, remember that every day is another opportunity to make memories. "
Recalling being absent from a high-profile appointment opening for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at the Raceway Freehold, Bon Jovi told the audience he had no plans other than to be a musician.
"I played metal first, and then my first guitar, less than two miles from here on Robin Hood Drive, he said. "I know it was less than two miles from school, because everything down there means you have to walk. school."
amazing friend
Bon Jovi arrived with his friend Dave "The Snake" Sabo, a fellow Sayreville graduate who played basketball and played guitar with Bon Jovi before forming Skid Row.
Sabo, who credits Bon Jovi with helping him get his first record deal at Skid Row, was stunned when he was announced as a member of the Hall of Fame class.
"I would say the success I've had in my career would never have happened without this guy here," Sabo said. "You hear some good things about him, but that doesn't even scratch the surface, and you don't spend a lot of time with him, but I'm very grateful for his advice, his friendship and his brotherhood, and I'm happy." It's an honor to be in front of all of you. I love this school, I love this city, and I love the people who are involved in what's going on today."
Jon Bon Jovi hugs his old friend Dave Sabo from Skid Row. They were both inducted into the Sayreville High School Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
Not only did Bon Jovi and Sabo have a long-standing friendship, but so did guitar teacher Al Parrinello.
The school's new music studio, a gift from Bon Jovi and the JBJ administration, is named "AP '95" in Parrinello's memory. The moniker Bon Jovi carved into his guitar after his mentor's death in 1995.
"I just wanted to know that he was always with me," Bon Jovi said. "Every time I pick that thing up, or every time I'm writing a song, every time I'm in the world, that guy is by my side."
It's not just music
Today, Bon Jovi is a legendary singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor and philanthropist, who has spent four decades entertaining as well as feeding the hungry through charitable causes such as Red Bank, JBJ Soul Kitchen restaurants in Toms River and Jersey City.
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"It's a journey, you know, I've been on this journey my whole adult life, and I started here, I started before I was an adult," he said. "...and I sit here today and share it with you."
Being named Musicians Person of the Year by the Recording Academy earlier this year was a big moment for Bon Jovi, recalling a night in high school when his Jersey pal Bruce Springsteen performed at one of his shows.
"Tonight, we were doing a concert and I turned around and there was my childhood hero singing on stage," Bon Jovi said. He continued his speech. "Bruce flew in to perform with me. He played our new song and that song and he jumped on stage to perform for me for the first time."
All in all, Bon Jovi never lost sight of where he came from.
"When I was a kid, you always had this little idea that 'I'm going to break out,' 'I'm going to be my own person,' I'm going to see the world," he said. . "Then when I get there, you can only go so far before you have to go back home. Wherever I've been in this world for 40 years, take where you come from. It shows in the songs you write or in your relationships. There."
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